VTB United league 2017/2018
Astana
Astana
VTB United League, Regular season
11.02.2018, 15:00 Su
Arena: Velotrek «Saryarka» (Astana)
87:64
Main time
23:21 21:21 21:12 22:10
Game number: RS-88
Spectators: 1120
Zenit
Saint-Petersburg

«Astana» hosts «Zenith» from St. Petersburg 

10.02.2018, 12:00    Просмотров: 634
Источник: Press service
Автор: Almira Shakhaeva
On Sunday, February 11, «Astana» will host a home game in the regular season of the VTB United League against «Zenith» from St. Petersburg.

«Zenith» - is a Russian professional men's basketball club from the city of St. Petersburg.

Achievements:
  • Bronze medalist of the VTB United League — 2015/2016
  • Bronze medalist of the Championship of Russia — 2015/2016
  • Finalist of the Russian Cup — 2015/2016
 
Chronicle of past games:
Basketball club from St. Petersburg in the VTB United League since 2014. From the very first year, the team pleased their fans. The team did a good job in the season 2015/2016 when it became the winner of the bronze medals of VTB United League. More than once the players of the club became the best in their positions in the regular League Championship. As for the games «Astana» — «Zenit,» the teams met on the court 7 times, where Astana team only once managed to beat the St. Petersburg team on the road in the season 2014/2015.

Current situation:
The club has been headed by Vasiliy Karasev for four seasons, a graduate of the Leningrad basketball school. In the season 2015/2016 he became the coach of the year in the VTB United League and under his guidance, the team won the bronze medals of the Championship. The team has quite a lot of strong leaders. For example, American forward Drew Gordon, who by the way will compete with Ike Udano in the slam dunk competition at the All-Star Game, scores an average of 15.8 points per game and makes 8.6 rebounds. It is worth noting the Russian defender Sergey Karasev, who stands out for his personality, and a beautiful game, Karasev brings the team on average 15 points per game.
 
Standings:
«Zenit» takes the fourth place in the standings of the VTB League with the result of 11 wins, 2 losses. The team also participates in EuroCup, and is in the second place in its group. «Astana» takes 11th place in the standings of the League of VTB.
 
Commentary of the head coach of BC «Astana», Mikhail Karpenko:
- «Zenit» is a very good balanced team, which worthily enters top 5 best teams of the VTB League. Recently, «Zenit» has played quite successfully, just a few days ago they reserved the playoff in the Eurocup, successfully played the last matches in the VTB League, it will just suffice to mention the victory over CSKA. The team plays great attacking basketball, they are aggressive on both sides of the court: in attack and defense. The team has a good roster of performers with almost two equal players in each position, a team that maintains a good pace and plays with a good rotation. We must pay special attention, above all, to «Zenit» shooters such as Kyle Kurich and Sergey Karasev, Evgeniy Voronov is in very good shape now, and they also have an excellent newcomer Malcolm Griffin. Nevertheless, we will play to win. If we stop «Zenit» and make them play at a pace that is convenient for us, we have a chance.

Where, when, at what time?
Arena: Republican cycle track «Saryarka»
Time: 15.00 by the time of Astana
Broadcast: VTB United League website, website of BC «Astana», TV channel «QazSport» (live)

«Astana» shocks «Zenit» and returns to the race for the playoff!

11.02.2018, 20:00    Просмотров: 624
Источник: Press service
Автор: Almira Shakhaeva
«Astana» defeated Russian «Zenit» with a wide margin — 87:64 (23:21, 21:21, 21:12, 21:10).

Kazakhstan team immediately demonstrated that they were serious about their intentions, winning the first period with the score of 23:21. Throughout the first half there was a hard struggle on the court — shortly before the buzzer for a long break Kyle Kuric briefly brought guests ahead, but the «Astana» found their own heroes in the face of Anthony Clemmons and Leonidas Kaselakis, who regained the lead of the hosts.

After the break, the game achieved its turning-point. «Zenit» lost energy, playing hard on two sides of the court, which the rebellious hosts did not fail to take advantage of. Clemmons and Kaselakis continued to lead their team ahead, and very soon the difference in the score became double-digit. «Zenit» lost its game: during the last 9 minutes «Zentit» managed to score only 2 points, and only hosts' relaxed mood after ensuring their victory allowed the athletes of Vasily Karasev to avoid the season's antirecord. «Astana» wins the most important victory in the season and again joins the fight for the playoff.

Hero: Ike Udano. The American took full advantage of the absence of «big»  Drew Gordon and held one of the best games for «Astana,» making a double-double — 21 points and 10 rebounds in just 27 minutes.

The most effective:
  • «Astana»: Ike Udano (21 + 10 rebounds), Anthony Clemmons (17 + 5 rebounds), Leonidas Kaselakis (16 + 6 rebounds), Justin Carter (15)
  • «Zenith»: Kyle Kurich (13), Marco Simonovic (10)

Acting head coach of BC «Astana» Mikhail Karpenko:
- I have to say that in the first half there was an equal game, which mirrored in the score, we attacked well, but made mistakes in defense, made losses, which resulted in easy points of the opponent. At the same time, we were focused on our task and followed the plan for the game. In the second half we already started to gain the advantage in the score, and in the fourth quarter already have completely controlled the game. Thanks to my team for the work, I congratulate all the fans with a big victory.

Head coach of «Zenit» Vasily Karasev:
- The trip was hard for us — the team just returned from Italy, where there was a hard game for entering the playoff. We had one day to prepare for today's match. The team was slow in all aspects. We did not run at all, could not play one-to-one, tried to rely on three-pointers, but missed.
 

The next matches «Astana» will be held on its court, on February 14 and 15. The capital basketball players will host the basketball club «Barys Atyrau» within the framework of the National League of the Championship of Kazakhstan.

«Astana» will hold the next game within the framework of the VTB United League on its court on March 4, Astana basketball players will receive the Belarusian club «Tsmoki Minsk» on their court.

Information about the opponent

Established year: 2014 Team colors: white, dark blue
Country: Russia Arena: «Sibur Arena»
City: Saint-Petersburg Website: https://bc-zenit.com

Description

«Zenit» - is a Russian professional men's basketball team from St. Petersburg, founded in 2014.
 
Achievements:
  • Champion of VTB United League — 2021/2022
  • Winner of the Russian Championship — 2021/2022
  • Bronze medallist of VTB United League — 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2019/2020 
  • Bronze medallist of Russian Championship — 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2019/2020
  • Silver medalist of VTB United League Super Cup — 2021
  • Russian Cup finalist — 2015/2016

Overall team photo

Zenit